This blog has focused on the love of Heavenly Father in past posts. We live in a world where we don't have the physical presence of God with us every day. Most of us don't actually get the opportunity to see Him, either. We know that some have. The scriptures have testified of such. But the majority of the population doesn't see Him.
This physical separation requires us to rely on faith in order to establish a relationship with God. Yet we are born without a knowledge of God. So how are we supposed to have faith in order to establish a relationship with God if we don't know about Him. We must be taught about God in order to begin to have faith.
There is a problem with this. There are many different beliefs about God. Some don't believe there is a God. Some believe God is whatever you want Him to be. Some believe God has no physical form and is everywhere and in everything all at once. We as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recognize that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have physical bodies that have been perfected, whereas the Holy Spirit that testifies of God has not yet received a physical body and only has a spiritual body.
We have the same complication when it comes to differing doctrines of religion. There are many beliefs about baptism, sacrifice, commandments, and the other doctrines of religion. How are we to learn what is in fact the true doctrines and the truth about God when there are so many differing beliefs?
We fortunately have three different ways of distinguishing between the truth and that which is misguiding. The first is the scriptures. These precious books of truth help set us on the course towards God. They are valuable tools for learning the personality and characteristics of our precious Savior and God the Eternal Father.
The second tool we have at our disposal is personal revelation. As we live according to the teachings of the Savior Jesus Christ, we develop an ability to feel the promptings of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit testifies of all truth, be they eternal or temporal. So having access to these priceless promptings can direct us in our gaining knowledge of God and the many other true doctrines.
The third of these valuable tools is prophets and apostles, special witnesses of God called by Him to testify to the world of all truth. The scriptures are in fact guidance and direction from God written through the hands of His apostles and prophets. These men carry a divine mandate to testify of Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice. This divine mandate brings with it a special connection with God that allows them to receive guidance and direction in all truth for the world.
None of these gifts that help us learn the truth about God and His doctrines are complete without the other two. Scriptures can be misinterpreted. We can also easily misunderstand our own promptings or the direction we receive from prophets and apostles. But when we receive a witness from all three of these sources of guidance, we can know with absolute certainty that what we have received is the truth. So it is that we need all three.
With this knowledge we can ascertain the need for prophets and apostles in these days in which we live. I want to spend a little time focusing on apostles and prophets in our day in blogs following this one. I don't know yet how many blog entries it will take. But I hope that, when I am through, my readers will see why we have a need for prophets and apostles. And I hope they will know where they can look to find them.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Sunday, February 19, 2012
The Faith of the Savior
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as well as members of many other religions, recognize that we can rely on succor in our time of need from the Savior Jesus Christ. We know and trust that He understands the many things we have to go through in the course of our lives. He has this knowledge because He also had to go through all things just as we do.
We have to suffer through the difficulties of life, such as pain, financial stress, emotional beatings, and loneliness. The Savior also had to suffer through these difficulties. We are able to bear up these burdens and live good lives because of our faith. The Savior also was able to make it through His life because of His faith.
You may wonder how it could possibly be that the Son of God had to use faith in His life. Surely He knew all things, so He wouldn't have to live by faith. This really isn't so. We are born into the world with a vail over our eyes that prevents us from remembering our heavenly home and the things that took place there. Then we must learn of the things of God through faith. The Savior was also born into this world with that vail. We can turn to Luke 2:40 to find evidence of this. This scripture reads: "And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him."
The word waxed indicates growth. So when it reads He waxed strong in spirit, it is proclaiming that Jesus grew strong in spirit. He didn't start out that way. He had to learn and grow just as we do. So, the only way He could come to a knowledge of God was through the exercising of faith.
There are other times in the life of the Savior that He demonstrated faith as well. Luke chapter four teaches of the temptations Jesus suffered in the wilderness. He was tempted with by His physical needs, power, and vanity. These weren't the only temptations or trials He suffered in life, either. From His birth all the way to death, Jesus endured trials and temptations of every kind. As we search through the accounts of His life, as well as the many scriptures prophesying and testifying of Him, we can find the various temptations He had to endure.
When many of His disciples turned and left Him, Jesus felt despair and asked remaining disciples if they, too, would leave Him. The remaining disciples testified they knew who Christ was, and Christ's faith carried Him forward. Knowing the pain He would have to endure, Jesus was tempted not to perform the Atonement. He even asked God, though briefly, to remove the burden. Then He went forward in faith, and gave His blood as the sacrifice for our sins. Jesus suffered persecution many times, even just before death. He exercised faith and went to meet His destiny.
Jesus also exercised faith to perform miracles. How could the Savior raise the dead, heal the sick, walk on water, and perform the multitude of miracles He did unless He first had faith that He could do it? Let us turn to the account of His raising Lazarus, as found in John chapter 11, for evidence. When Jesus heard that His dear friend was sick, He delayed going to him. Then when He went, Lazarus had died. Jesus pronounced Lazarus would rise again. Then He went to the tomb and instructed the people to remove the stone. They did so. Jesus then, after going forward in faith, thanked God the Father for having heard Him. In other words, He exercised faith to go forward to raise Lazarus. Then, upon arriving to do so, He knew Heavenly Father had answered His faith. Lazarus was raised from the dead because Jesus had faith.
The scriptures that testify of the faith exercised by the Savior Jesus Christ are too plentiful to recount all of them. He was born into the world without knowledge of who He was. But Mary and Joseph taught Him, and He had faith it was true. That faith grew in Him, carrying Him forth to perform the many miracles that blessed the lives of those who were blessed to meet Him. It carried Him through the persecution and difficulties He would face. It carried Him through the atoning sacrifice He had to bare in the Garden of Gethsemane, through the mockery and persecution of His imprisonment, and through the burden of being crucified upon the Hill Calvary.
It was the faith of Jesus Christ that allowed Him to lay down His life, for only by His choice to die could the Savior die. It was the faith of Jesus Christ that allowed Him to reclaim His physical body, rising to a resurrected being filled with glory.
It is through the faith of Jesus Christ that we have claim to His atoning sacrifice. It is through His faith that we will rise from the dead. And it is through His faith that we can obtain mercy at the day of judgment, allowing us to enter into the courts of God.
Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living Father, demonstrated to us the power of faith. He performed the greatest miracles the world has ever, or will ever, know through the exercise of His faith. And because of these miracles, we have hope. This hope should lead us to exercise our faith, for that is what we are required to do. And should we meet trials, should we face persecution, should we have difficult times in store, we can turn to the example of Jesus Christ to find reason for exercising our faith just a little more.
We have to suffer through the difficulties of life, such as pain, financial stress, emotional beatings, and loneliness. The Savior also had to suffer through these difficulties. We are able to bear up these burdens and live good lives because of our faith. The Savior also was able to make it through His life because of His faith.
You may wonder how it could possibly be that the Son of God had to use faith in His life. Surely He knew all things, so He wouldn't have to live by faith. This really isn't so. We are born into the world with a vail over our eyes that prevents us from remembering our heavenly home and the things that took place there. Then we must learn of the things of God through faith. The Savior was also born into this world with that vail. We can turn to Luke 2:40 to find evidence of this. This scripture reads: "And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him."
The word waxed indicates growth. So when it reads He waxed strong in spirit, it is proclaiming that Jesus grew strong in spirit. He didn't start out that way. He had to learn and grow just as we do. So, the only way He could come to a knowledge of God was through the exercising of faith.
There are other times in the life of the Savior that He demonstrated faith as well. Luke chapter four teaches of the temptations Jesus suffered in the wilderness. He was tempted with by His physical needs, power, and vanity. These weren't the only temptations or trials He suffered in life, either. From His birth all the way to death, Jesus endured trials and temptations of every kind. As we search through the accounts of His life, as well as the many scriptures prophesying and testifying of Him, we can find the various temptations He had to endure.
When many of His disciples turned and left Him, Jesus felt despair and asked remaining disciples if they, too, would leave Him. The remaining disciples testified they knew who Christ was, and Christ's faith carried Him forward. Knowing the pain He would have to endure, Jesus was tempted not to perform the Atonement. He even asked God, though briefly, to remove the burden. Then He went forward in faith, and gave His blood as the sacrifice for our sins. Jesus suffered persecution many times, even just before death. He exercised faith and went to meet His destiny.
Jesus also exercised faith to perform miracles. How could the Savior raise the dead, heal the sick, walk on water, and perform the multitude of miracles He did unless He first had faith that He could do it? Let us turn to the account of His raising Lazarus, as found in John chapter 11, for evidence. When Jesus heard that His dear friend was sick, He delayed going to him. Then when He went, Lazarus had died. Jesus pronounced Lazarus would rise again. Then He went to the tomb and instructed the people to remove the stone. They did so. Jesus then, after going forward in faith, thanked God the Father for having heard Him. In other words, He exercised faith to go forward to raise Lazarus. Then, upon arriving to do so, He knew Heavenly Father had answered His faith. Lazarus was raised from the dead because Jesus had faith.
The scriptures that testify of the faith exercised by the Savior Jesus Christ are too plentiful to recount all of them. He was born into the world without knowledge of who He was. But Mary and Joseph taught Him, and He had faith it was true. That faith grew in Him, carrying Him forth to perform the many miracles that blessed the lives of those who were blessed to meet Him. It carried Him through the persecution and difficulties He would face. It carried Him through the atoning sacrifice He had to bare in the Garden of Gethsemane, through the mockery and persecution of His imprisonment, and through the burden of being crucified upon the Hill Calvary.
It was the faith of Jesus Christ that allowed Him to lay down His life, for only by His choice to die could the Savior die. It was the faith of Jesus Christ that allowed Him to reclaim His physical body, rising to a resurrected being filled with glory.
It is through the faith of Jesus Christ that we have claim to His atoning sacrifice. It is through His faith that we will rise from the dead. And it is through His faith that we can obtain mercy at the day of judgment, allowing us to enter into the courts of God.
Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living Father, demonstrated to us the power of faith. He performed the greatest miracles the world has ever, or will ever, know through the exercise of His faith. And because of these miracles, we have hope. This hope should lead us to exercise our faith, for that is what we are required to do. And should we meet trials, should we face persecution, should we have difficult times in store, we can turn to the example of Jesus Christ to find reason for exercising our faith just a little more.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Faith in the Face of Persecution
One of the many struggles people of faith have to endure is persecution. This has been the mandate of faithful people since the beginning of the world. One of the first stories of the scriptures is the story of Cain and Able. Able, a man of faith, was slain by his brother Cain, who had given in to the temptations of the master lier, Lucifer.
Noah endured persecution at the hands of all living men. Abraham endured persecution at the hands of his countrymen and his father. David endured persecution from his brothers and his king. Jesus Christ endured persecution from those who professed to look forward to His coming.
You would think that in today's "enlightened" age, people of faith would not be called upon to endure persecution. The United States of America, along with many of the leading countries of the world, have a society that screams for equality and tolerance. In the United States alone, I can think of multiple laws and acts granting equality between various groups of people, including groups based on religion.
Yet persecution still rages on all fronts. We aren't as enlightened as we believe we are. And people of faith definitely face persecution. At times this persecution comes at the hands of those who choose not to believe in religion, such as atheists and agnostics. At times this persecution comes at the hands of people of other religions, as seen in the Crusades (with Christians attacking Muslims) and the attacks of 9/11 (when a handful of Muslims attacked Christians). And, ironically, at times this persecution comes at the hands of those who profess to share our faith, as seen in the lives of David, Jesus Christ, and Joseph Smith.
Having faith in the face of persecution can be incredibly difficult. It would be so easy to give in and do the things we are being encouraged to do, or to not do the things we are encouraged not to do. Yet doing so would violate our beliefs and morals. More importantly, it would drive a wedge between us and our Heavenly Father. Giving in is not an option.
So, I want to tell you of the one person I know who has endured more persecution than any other person I know, yet still holds true to his faith in God: my father. My father has endured persecution at the hands of almost everybody because his faith wasn't demonstrated as they believed it should be.
For example, my dad was once the instructor of the teenagers in his ward (a local unit of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where people look after one another and are instructed to ensure the spiritual and temporal welfare of each other is looked after). He used a couple four letter words during one of his lessons. Following this, the bishop (the head of the ward, usually called to serve for a five year period) released him from the calling, telling him he was unfit to be a teacher of teenagers, and unfit to be a parent. This was inspite of the fact that bishop also used this kind of language.
Please understand that this hypocritical action is a reflection of individual choice on the part of the bishop, not The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recognizes that all human beings have their weaknesses to overcome. The LDS Church condemns no one for having weaknesses, but instead strives to help them in their efforts to overcome weaknesses to become more like God.
Unfortunately, many people have belittled my dad for his weaknesses, overlooking the instruction given by the Savior in Matthew chapter 7. These people have at different times included his mother, my mother, my mother's mother, his siblings, my mother's siblings, and me and my siblings. In other words he has faced harsh criticism at the hands of those he holds most dear. And this criticism has often been based on the belief he isn't religious enough.
But he has always been religious enough. He has faith in God. He believes in Jesus Christ. And he strives to be a better person. This is what God asks of us, nothing more and nothing less.
I don't know how my father has managed to keep his faith in God in the face of persecution from those he loves so much. I've never had to face this kind of persecution. I admire and respect him for his ability to endure this kind of persecution and still have faith in God.
Let me tell you what I do know. Heavenly Father loves my dad. And He has stood behind my dad through these struggles and has uplifted and helped him. I don't know if my dad knows this. But I know it. I know it because He is always uplifting us through our struggles when we have faith in Him. He doesn't leave us alone in the face of difficult times.
When we have sinned and are trying to correct our sins, Heavenly Father succors us through His Son, Jesus Christ. When we face persecution and turn to Heavenly Father in faith, He succors us through His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Whenever we are struggling, no matter what it is, if we turn to God in faith, Heavenly Father succors us through the Master Healer, the Everlasting Strength of God, Jesus the Redeemer.
If you are facing persecution, no matter what form it has taken, learn from the example of my father and continue believing in Jehovah your Lord. You can do it. Job in the Old Testament did. Paul in the New Testament did. Nephi in The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ did. And Joseph Smith the Prophet did. And my father did.
Noah endured persecution at the hands of all living men. Abraham endured persecution at the hands of his countrymen and his father. David endured persecution from his brothers and his king. Jesus Christ endured persecution from those who professed to look forward to His coming.
You would think that in today's "enlightened" age, people of faith would not be called upon to endure persecution. The United States of America, along with many of the leading countries of the world, have a society that screams for equality and tolerance. In the United States alone, I can think of multiple laws and acts granting equality between various groups of people, including groups based on religion.
Yet persecution still rages on all fronts. We aren't as enlightened as we believe we are. And people of faith definitely face persecution. At times this persecution comes at the hands of those who choose not to believe in religion, such as atheists and agnostics. At times this persecution comes at the hands of people of other religions, as seen in the Crusades (with Christians attacking Muslims) and the attacks of 9/11 (when a handful of Muslims attacked Christians). And, ironically, at times this persecution comes at the hands of those who profess to share our faith, as seen in the lives of David, Jesus Christ, and Joseph Smith.
Having faith in the face of persecution can be incredibly difficult. It would be so easy to give in and do the things we are being encouraged to do, or to not do the things we are encouraged not to do. Yet doing so would violate our beliefs and morals. More importantly, it would drive a wedge between us and our Heavenly Father. Giving in is not an option.
So, I want to tell you of the one person I know who has endured more persecution than any other person I know, yet still holds true to his faith in God: my father. My father has endured persecution at the hands of almost everybody because his faith wasn't demonstrated as they believed it should be.
For example, my dad was once the instructor of the teenagers in his ward (a local unit of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where people look after one another and are instructed to ensure the spiritual and temporal welfare of each other is looked after). He used a couple four letter words during one of his lessons. Following this, the bishop (the head of the ward, usually called to serve for a five year period) released him from the calling, telling him he was unfit to be a teacher of teenagers, and unfit to be a parent. This was inspite of the fact that bishop also used this kind of language.
Please understand that this hypocritical action is a reflection of individual choice on the part of the bishop, not The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recognizes that all human beings have their weaknesses to overcome. The LDS Church condemns no one for having weaknesses, but instead strives to help them in their efforts to overcome weaknesses to become more like God.
Unfortunately, many people have belittled my dad for his weaknesses, overlooking the instruction given by the Savior in Matthew chapter 7. These people have at different times included his mother, my mother, my mother's mother, his siblings, my mother's siblings, and me and my siblings. In other words he has faced harsh criticism at the hands of those he holds most dear. And this criticism has often been based on the belief he isn't religious enough.
But he has always been religious enough. He has faith in God. He believes in Jesus Christ. And he strives to be a better person. This is what God asks of us, nothing more and nothing less.
I don't know how my father has managed to keep his faith in God in the face of persecution from those he loves so much. I've never had to face this kind of persecution. I admire and respect him for his ability to endure this kind of persecution and still have faith in God.
Let me tell you what I do know. Heavenly Father loves my dad. And He has stood behind my dad through these struggles and has uplifted and helped him. I don't know if my dad knows this. But I know it. I know it because He is always uplifting us through our struggles when we have faith in Him. He doesn't leave us alone in the face of difficult times.
When we have sinned and are trying to correct our sins, Heavenly Father succors us through His Son, Jesus Christ. When we face persecution and turn to Heavenly Father in faith, He succors us through His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. Whenever we are struggling, no matter what it is, if we turn to God in faith, Heavenly Father succors us through the Master Healer, the Everlasting Strength of God, Jesus the Redeemer.
If you are facing persecution, no matter what form it has taken, learn from the example of my father and continue believing in Jehovah your Lord. You can do it. Job in the Old Testament did. Paul in the New Testament did. Nephi in The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ did. And Joseph Smith the Prophet did. And my father did.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Never Tested Above Our Ability to Bare
Over the past couple of weeks, my mind has been consumed with thoughts of the disparities of the world. I've heard many discussions on the radio about the seemingly unfair conditions of the world. Some people live abundant lives with a vast amount of wealth. Some of these people are good people who live according to the pattern set by the Savior Jesus Christ. Others are bad people, living according to the pattern of Ebenezar Scrooge before the visits from the ghosts. At the same time their are many people living in destitution. Some of these are bad people who would live according to the pattern of Ebenezar Scrooge if they had wealth. Others are very good people who live according to the pattern set by Christ inspite of their lack of wealth. The trials of wealth are vastly different between the people of the world.
But it isn't all about wealth either. We can also look at trials of health and mental strength. There are trials of morals and principles. And their are emotional trials and struggles. Everybody in the world suffers different struggles, trials, and temptations.
Why do the people of this world live such vastly different lives? If there truly is a God, how can He watch the poor people in third world countries starve to death while so many in the wealthy countries, like the United States, constantly waste food? How can He watch as some children are sold into slave labor, some are grossly neglected by their parents, some are abused by having no consequences or structure, and others live a life with loving parents who raise them well?
How can a loving Heavenly Father watch as the best member of a family slowly suffers the debilitating effects of cancer, multiple schlerosis, diabetes, or some other physical ailment? How can He watch as a good person is murdered in cold blood?
These are hard questions to answer. The world we live in is a grossly unfair world, with incredible disparities among those who live here. And there doesn't seem to be any form of difference between those who follow the pattern of Christ and those who follow the patterns of Lucifer, the destroyer.
The answer to this question lies in ourselves. Each of us carries a unique personality. Each of us has different strengths and weaknesses, with varying degrees of strength and weakness in those areas. We were sent to an unfair world in order to develop our strengths and make them stronger, while eliminating our weaknesses in a test that would demonstrate our ability to choose to be Godlike when life isn't fair. So it is that we are each placed in different circumstances that are specifically designed to appropriately test us.
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recognize we've been given a tremendous promise to accompany that great test. This promise helps build our faith in ourselves and in God. It is that God will never place us in circumstances that test us beyond our abilities to bare if we live His commandments. This builds faith in ourselves because we recognize we can withstand any trial we've been given. God Himself has given us that vote of confidence, and who are we to argue with God. It builds our faith in Him because we know He stands ready to help us through the trials. Otherwise He wouldn't have given them to us.
Yet this promise does beg a question. If God won't place us in any trial we don't have the ability to bare, how is it that people stray from the path of righteousness? Shouldn't they overcome everything that lies in their path, demonstrating their godlike attributes?
The answer to this question lies in our agency. God may not try us above our ability to bare, but we can certainly choose not to do what we must to overcome those trials. Unfortunately, if we chose to give into temptations and wickedness, forsaking the path of righteousness, we can move ourselves into trials we are incapable of withstanding. In addition, we can lose our ability to withstand what we once could.
Let me give you an example. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recognize that God has commanded us not to use alcohol or tobacco. We also recognize pornography to be destructive and physical intimacy outside of wedlock to be strictly forbidden. Suppose I am not tempted at all by cigarettes, but I am tempted by alcohol. Also suppose that I fully believe in and live by the commandment to refrain from physical intimacy outside of wedlock, but I don't have the strength to withstand the temptation of pornography.
So I am not given the temptation of pornography. In addition it doesn't matter how many times I am confronted with cigarettes or physical intimacy. They don't tempt me. But I am confronted with alcohol. Suppose I give into the temptation and partake of the alcohol. Now I've made a gross error. As time progresses, my choice to use alcohol leads me to spend time with those who love the drink. Eventually I find myself spending time with someone who drinks and smokes. Because I compromised my morales, I've lost my strength and now find cigarettes a temptation. After some time I decide the alcohol is just fine, so cigarettes must be also.
As I start using cigarettes, I find myself compromising more of my standards and soon find myself spending time with someone deeply engaged in pornography. Now I am faced with the temptation I never had the strength to bare. It isn't because God allowed me to be placed in the situation. It's because I forsook His commandments and placed myself their. Not having the strength to resist, I indulge until such a time as I start engaging in physical intimacy outside of wedlock. And now I've committed one of the most serious sins.
On the other hand, if I had forsaken the temptation to use alcohol, my morales would have prevailed. Over time I would have developed a stronger sense of morales to the point I could withstand the temptation of pornography. I would have never been given this temptation up until that time because my obedience to the commandments of God allowed me to always have the promise I wouldn't have to. Once I developed the strength, God would allow me to face it. And again I would have the choice to resist or give in.
It's important to recognize that no matter where you are on this scale, you can continue on the path you've begun, or you can change it. If you've chosen that which is righteous, you can continue doing so. As you do you will overcome one weakness right after another, continually becoming stronger and more godlike. Eventually you will have no weaknesses left. If you change the path and start giving into weaknesses you will start losing the strength you have built. So, in the event you have erred, quickly correct it and get back on the path of righteousness. In other words, repent and use the Atonement of Jesus Christ in faith.
If you have started on the downward spiral, you can continue along this path or you can change and come back to the path that is good and righteous. The farther you have gone into temptations and wickedness, the more difficult it is to choose to forsake this wrong path. So you want to change it sooner rather than later. But recognize that the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ can redeem you. If you exercise faith in Him and call upon Him for help, you can break the bonds of temptation and return to the path of righteousness. He will draw you out of the weaknesses you endure and place you back at your points of strength.
This world is not a fair world. There are many discreprencies in this world. Yet we have the promise we will never be called upon to endure temptations and trials we don't have the power to endure if we follow the commandments given to us through the prophets of God. I know this promise is true. Choose the better part so you have that promise.
But it isn't all about wealth either. We can also look at trials of health and mental strength. There are trials of morals and principles. And their are emotional trials and struggles. Everybody in the world suffers different struggles, trials, and temptations.
Why do the people of this world live such vastly different lives? If there truly is a God, how can He watch the poor people in third world countries starve to death while so many in the wealthy countries, like the United States, constantly waste food? How can He watch as some children are sold into slave labor, some are grossly neglected by their parents, some are abused by having no consequences or structure, and others live a life with loving parents who raise them well?
How can a loving Heavenly Father watch as the best member of a family slowly suffers the debilitating effects of cancer, multiple schlerosis, diabetes, or some other physical ailment? How can He watch as a good person is murdered in cold blood?
These are hard questions to answer. The world we live in is a grossly unfair world, with incredible disparities among those who live here. And there doesn't seem to be any form of difference between those who follow the pattern of Christ and those who follow the patterns of Lucifer, the destroyer.
The answer to this question lies in ourselves. Each of us carries a unique personality. Each of us has different strengths and weaknesses, with varying degrees of strength and weakness in those areas. We were sent to an unfair world in order to develop our strengths and make them stronger, while eliminating our weaknesses in a test that would demonstrate our ability to choose to be Godlike when life isn't fair. So it is that we are each placed in different circumstances that are specifically designed to appropriately test us.
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recognize we've been given a tremendous promise to accompany that great test. This promise helps build our faith in ourselves and in God. It is that God will never place us in circumstances that test us beyond our abilities to bare if we live His commandments. This builds faith in ourselves because we recognize we can withstand any trial we've been given. God Himself has given us that vote of confidence, and who are we to argue with God. It builds our faith in Him because we know He stands ready to help us through the trials. Otherwise He wouldn't have given them to us.
Yet this promise does beg a question. If God won't place us in any trial we don't have the ability to bare, how is it that people stray from the path of righteousness? Shouldn't they overcome everything that lies in their path, demonstrating their godlike attributes?
The answer to this question lies in our agency. God may not try us above our ability to bare, but we can certainly choose not to do what we must to overcome those trials. Unfortunately, if we chose to give into temptations and wickedness, forsaking the path of righteousness, we can move ourselves into trials we are incapable of withstanding. In addition, we can lose our ability to withstand what we once could.
Let me give you an example. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recognize that God has commanded us not to use alcohol or tobacco. We also recognize pornography to be destructive and physical intimacy outside of wedlock to be strictly forbidden. Suppose I am not tempted at all by cigarettes, but I am tempted by alcohol. Also suppose that I fully believe in and live by the commandment to refrain from physical intimacy outside of wedlock, but I don't have the strength to withstand the temptation of pornography.
So I am not given the temptation of pornography. In addition it doesn't matter how many times I am confronted with cigarettes or physical intimacy. They don't tempt me. But I am confronted with alcohol. Suppose I give into the temptation and partake of the alcohol. Now I've made a gross error. As time progresses, my choice to use alcohol leads me to spend time with those who love the drink. Eventually I find myself spending time with someone who drinks and smokes. Because I compromised my morales, I've lost my strength and now find cigarettes a temptation. After some time I decide the alcohol is just fine, so cigarettes must be also.
As I start using cigarettes, I find myself compromising more of my standards and soon find myself spending time with someone deeply engaged in pornography. Now I am faced with the temptation I never had the strength to bare. It isn't because God allowed me to be placed in the situation. It's because I forsook His commandments and placed myself their. Not having the strength to resist, I indulge until such a time as I start engaging in physical intimacy outside of wedlock. And now I've committed one of the most serious sins.
On the other hand, if I had forsaken the temptation to use alcohol, my morales would have prevailed. Over time I would have developed a stronger sense of morales to the point I could withstand the temptation of pornography. I would have never been given this temptation up until that time because my obedience to the commandments of God allowed me to always have the promise I wouldn't have to. Once I developed the strength, God would allow me to face it. And again I would have the choice to resist or give in.
It's important to recognize that no matter where you are on this scale, you can continue on the path you've begun, or you can change it. If you've chosen that which is righteous, you can continue doing so. As you do you will overcome one weakness right after another, continually becoming stronger and more godlike. Eventually you will have no weaknesses left. If you change the path and start giving into weaknesses you will start losing the strength you have built. So, in the event you have erred, quickly correct it and get back on the path of righteousness. In other words, repent and use the Atonement of Jesus Christ in faith.
If you have started on the downward spiral, you can continue along this path or you can change and come back to the path that is good and righteous. The farther you have gone into temptations and wickedness, the more difficult it is to choose to forsake this wrong path. So you want to change it sooner rather than later. But recognize that the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ can redeem you. If you exercise faith in Him and call upon Him for help, you can break the bonds of temptation and return to the path of righteousness. He will draw you out of the weaknesses you endure and place you back at your points of strength.
This world is not a fair world. There are many discreprencies in this world. Yet we have the promise we will never be called upon to endure temptations and trials we don't have the power to endure if we follow the commandments given to us through the prophets of God. I know this promise is true. Choose the better part so you have that promise.
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